Alison Vinciguerra of long distance loving hadn’t had a chance to put front door decorations in her first Christmas in her new home. This year, she took part in our Holiday Style Challenge series here on The Home Depot Blog, though. We sent her some mystery boxes of Home Depot Christmas decorations, and let her work her decorating magic.

Now her front door looks absolutely fabulous for the holidays. She shares some clever ideas for making the most of your front door decorations– including her easy way to “float” a wreath on the front door.

After doing a complete back patio makeover this spring, I was thrilled to be asked back for another challenge this holiday season! Last year, we moved into our new home one month before Christmas. In that month, we scurried around to unpack before we welcomed our son, James. (He arrived two weeks after we moved in and two weeks before Christmas!) I can confidently say that decorating our home for the holidays was the last thought on my mind. We put a wreath on our front door and called it a day. It was a shame because our beautiful front door (seen below) deserved to get dressed up for the holidays!

Thanks to The Home Depot, I finally got to do our home justice this year with new front door decorations for Christmas.

Front Door Decorations for Christmas

I was so excited to tear open the boxes full of holiday goodies to get my wheels turning for this challenge. (It really felt like Christmas morning!)

First, I opened a box which contained this gorgeous garland. Each box after that got progressively more exciting.

They also sent along a coordinating wreath and potted tree. I immediately started scheming what to do with these festive pieces!

Potted Christmas Trees

I have always been a fan of symmetry, so my first order of business for the front door decorations was to order a second potted tree to flank each side of our door. I also snagged a few more strands of garland to frame the front door and wrap around two of the columns on our porch.

For an extra bit of flair, I also added a bit of burlap ribbon that I found at a local craft store to the trees. I did remove the faux feathers from the garland and wreath because they weren’t to my taste. What type of garland you display is up to you!

LED Christmas Lights

We have a running debate in our house about whether we are white light fans or multi-colored light fans. I am a diehard warm white lights fan. Thankfully, both the wreath and potted tree were pre-lit with this exact variety. (All I needed to do was add two C batteries to each!) I also ordered a few strands of these warm white mini LED lights.

Since we have a curious little one who is constantly exploring, I chose LED Christmas lights because they remain cool to the touch even when they are lit. They are also much more efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs (no crazy power surges like the one in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”!). Last, but certainly not least, these lights have ConstantON technology – meaning the strand stays lit even if one light is missing or burns out.

Hiding the Electrical Cords

Speaking of lights, one of my biggest pet peeves is seeing excessive cords. Not only are they a tripping hazard, but they can also distract from your décor. I decided to hide the majority of the cords with this cord protector, which I painted to match our porch.

I took home a handful of brown paint swatches and found one that worked best. The paint department at The Home Depot was able mix a tiny jar of my precise hue, which was more than enough! Using a sturdy utility knife, I cut the cord protector to fit the span between the front pillars and the outlet. It may not be the most glamorous DIY, but it does keep safety front of mind!

Command Hooks and Fishing Line to Hang the Wreath

Another essential tool I used when completing this challenge were Command Hooks. I placed one hook upside down on the inside of my front door. I then cut four pieces of nylon hanging wire, knotted them together, and threaded them through the wreath. I tied it off in the back and then hung the wreath on the hook inside the door.

The end result? The illusion of a floating wreath! Removing the wreath hanger means the door still functions normally – without any excess clanking.

I also used the Command Hooks to evenly space the garland on the front porch columns.

Last but certainly not least, I used them to thread the twinkle lights from one side to the other – keeping them invisible from the front view of the porch.

When I started this challenge, my goal was to create an extra festive space, which would long outlive this holiday season. With these classic holiday pieces from The Home Depot, the end result is one I know we can recreate for years to come.

Alison Vinciguerra works in sales; by night, she pursues her passion for design — both in their home and on her blog, long distance loving. With Midwestern sensibility and New England style, Alison is working to make their new house a home. She lives in Rhode Island with her husband Chris and son James.